The dozen short stories in John Updike's new collection revisit many of the locales of his fiction: the small Pennsylvania town of Olinger, the lon...
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Jan 04, 2009
brian
rated it: 
no other book i’ve read proves those famous lines more terrible or more true than the Rabbit series:
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
you want to scream at these people to be nicer and have some perspective and see the big picture; that all the arguments and minor tragedies and betrayals and qui More...
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
you want to scream at these people to be nicer and have some perspective and see the big picture; that all the arguments and minor tragedies and betrayals and qui More...
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Jul 07, 2011
Jogle
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Having read the whole ‘Rabbit’ series, and loved them in varying degrees, I had to take the time to read the novella, ‘Rabbit Remembered’ which accounts for half of this collection. I think that is how most readers will come to this book. ‘Rabbit Remembered’ deals with the aftermath of Harry Angstrom’s life, not just in a memory but also in the physical and emotional elements he has left behind. Ten years have past since his death and life has continued for the family up to the millennium. New l
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Oct 16, 2009
Jamie
rated it: 
Having never read the Rabbit series, I only have this one novella to go on, but the entire collection was wonderful. In the spirit of Irving, there's an East Coast "vibe," even when the stories deviate or rely on other aspects to full them along. In the end there's always the smell of fall leaves and changing seasons. Wet boots on hardwood and dirty blankets to catch the slush. You can't extract the East from Updike's stories.
In a world of new books, I can say there's somet More...
In a world of new books, I can say there's somet More...
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Jan 30, 2011
Ruqaiya
rated it:
I was disappointed with the book, but as I read along I realised that I picked the wrong book to begin with . It was one of those moments when you see a book on a bookshelf and tell yourself :" This looks good" , and that's exactly what it was , just looks good. 2/3rds of this book contains a painfully slow narrative of stories about infidelity in marriages. Whilst that might be considered as audacious by some , I found it dreadfully boring despite the narrative being descriptive.
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Jan 19, 2011
Jay
rated it:
It took me a while to get through this book, I won’t lie. The books is basically divided into two parts. The first half is short stories, almost entirely dealing with the subject of marital infidelity. The second half is a novella “Rabbit Remembered” which is a sequel to one of Updike’s earlier stories about Harry “Rabbit” Angstrom.
I had never read an Updike collection before, and if you had asked me in the beginning section of the book (the stories of marital infidelity), I mo More...
I had never read an Updike collection before, and if you had asked me in the beginning section of the book (the stories of marital infidelity), I mo More...
Jun 15, 2009
John
rated it:
OK, I haven't read this whole collection, only "Rabbit Remembered," which is the reason I bought it. The ghost of the narcissistic Harry Angstrom puts in one last appearance in the form of his long-lost flesh-and-blood progeny. He haunts the story throughout. His rival Ronnie, now married to his widow, sums him up best: "I knew Rabbit longer than either of you. I knew him since we were kids in knickers snitching penny candy off the counter at Lennert's Variety Store. That conceite
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Nov 11, 2008
Steven
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Feb 12, 2008
Rebecca
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After finishing the last novel in Updike's "Rabbit" series, I was a little sad to see the story end, to say good-bye to Rabbit Angstrom. So admittedly, I experienced a feeling of sweet self-indulgence when I discovered the "Rabbit Remembered" sequel at the back of this collection of stories. Or maybe it was more "bittersweet," sort of like reconnecting with an old boyfriend/girlfriend after many years, the excitement and warmth of re-establishing that intimate con
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Apr 20, 2010
Misty
rated it:
I am giving this four stars, because Rabbit Remembered - the reason I bought this book - made me cry at the end. Of all the moments in the series, I will probably remember the last few sentences of this novella the most.
The rest of the stories in this collection were just okay, and I tired of them before reading them all. Too much adultery, although I liked some of the details in "New York Girl." I know now that I don't want to read the Bech books after starting but not finis More...
The rest of the stories in this collection were just okay, and I tired of them before reading them all. Too much adultery, although I liked some of the details in "New York Girl." I know now that I don't want to read the Bech books after starting but not finis More...
Dec 18, 2011
Barry
rated it: 
12/11-12/17
part 14/16 of my Last 16 Weeks of 2011 project
Rabbit Remembered - J. Updike - 2000 - 181 Pages - 12/17-12/18
The very end is great, but the rest...
I think in one of the other Rabbits I praised how much these books seem like Updike spends a decade banging out prose poems on the current cultural-existential miasmic shifts and then pops Rabbit into it at intervals, but that method seems to bottom out here without Rabbit and mostly just all of his former More...
part 14/16 of my Last 16 Weeks of 2011 project
Rabbit Remembered - J. Updike - 2000 - 181 Pages - 12/17-12/18
The very end is great, but the rest...
I think in one of the other Rabbits I praised how much these books seem like Updike spends a decade banging out prose poems on the current cultural-existential miasmic shifts and then pops Rabbit into it at intervals, but that method seems to bottom out here without Rabbit and mostly just all of his former More...
Sep 13, 2011
Noëlibrarian
rated it: 
A dozen short stories, plus one novella, all on the theme of love: adulterous love, familial love, nostalgic love, aging love. Updike’s skill lies in the beauty and intricacy of his sentences, which trace the subtleties of the human heart – he writes with passion and drive and a deep appreciation for women.
Dec 22, 2010
Annie
rated it:
so, i found this collection of short stories -- most revolving around marriages crumbling in middle age -- really cliched and uninspired (although beautifully written). it essentially beats the brow of the whole "banal evil of marriage" thing.
then i had a long discussion with a friend who is an updike devotee. he reminded me that updike was one of the first writers to write this sort of story -- ie, to examine the institution of marriage and all the hypocrisies of its norm More...
then i had a long discussion with a friend who is an updike devotee. he reminded me that updike was one of the first writers to write this sort of story -- ie, to examine the institution of marriage and all the hypocrisies of its norm More...
Jan 10, 2012
Marcleitson
rated it:
I picked this up because of the the last of the stories in the book...."Rabbit Remembered". I read the "Rabbit" series years ago and will always be amongst my favorites. I was hesitant that I would recall the characters or that it might seem dated. Has not been a disappointment in the least.
Oct 10, 2009
Amanda
rated it:
Surprised by how much I liked the short stories. I deeply loved the Rabbit series and bought the book for the novella at the end, but I think that for the most part I liked the short stories better and felt like "Rabbit Remembered" was an affirmation of a million pages about one character and his shitty little town in Pennsylvania being enough. Not too much, but enough.
The weird thing about Updike is even though I really love reading him I feel like I wouldn't recommend him More...
The weird thing about Updike is even though I really love reading him I feel like I wouldn't recommend him More...
Aug 12, 2009
Marvin
rated it:
Brings readers up to date on what happened to other members of the family of the main character of the Rabbit series after his death. Despite some good reviews & my enthusiasm for Updike & the Rabbit series, I found this pretty inconsequential.
May 19, 2009
Frank
rated it:
Lovely. I would recommend these 12 short stories as everything I love about Updike and Rabbit Remembered as a last say on a character I don't know whether I love or not.
Feb 14, 2009
Carol
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I read the 'Rabbit Remembered' from this book. I thought I had read all the 'Rabbit' books, but this one slipped by me. Nice to have everything all tied up. Loved it.
Dec 16, 2009
Alexis
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I was very surprised (and relieved, in a way) to discover this book after finishing what I thought was the last of the Rabbit series. I enjoyed reading what was left of his legacy from the female perspectives that were so overshadowed by his presence (and narration) while he was alive--but I missed him--because part of what made the previous books so great was being so close to his voice. It wasn't really nessessary for Updike to go back in to this world and demystify Nelson, Janice, ect., but
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May 16, 2011
Obiike
rated it:
A bit hit or miss, as most short story collections are. My first introduction to Updike, and though not exactly my style, I was impressed.
Jun 28, 2010
James
rated it:
I bought this book for 'Rabbit Remembered', but I ended up enjoying the short stories as much/more than the sequel. Although some of the themes of the short stories seem redundant, some of included stories are among Updike's best. Worth mentioning are 'The Cats', 'Natural Color', 'His Oeuvre' and 'Licks of Love in the Heart of the Cold War', which contain some of my favorite Updike moments. With that being said, those interested in continuing to read about Rabbit Angstrom wont be disappointed
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Aug 29, 2008
Eliza T.
rated it:
I am hesitant and a bit embarassed to 3 star John Updike--however this is my book site and therefore I am gonna go with it. While there were certain stories in this collection that stood out for me, in particular "My father on the verge of Disgrace", for the most part I was a bit bored. The settings were clear and well crafted, the imagery was stark and clever but at times I felt like nothing happened and I longed for action--a little needling or hurt feelings or overt aggression.
Dec 19, 2011
Andy
rated it:
mixed bag of short stories - real reason for reading for me was Rabbit Remembered - like a school reunion, catching up on the characters -unfortunately the highschool star absent... many touch points to stories in the previous 4 books, less real new development of the characters, Rabbit's new daughter aside
Nov 27, 2011
Nate
rated it:
I just read the novella "Rabbit Remembered" from this compilation. The story follows Rabbit's wife, son and illegitimate daughter after he dies of a heart attack in his mid-fifties. People reunite, come to terms with dad's death and legacy and then live happily ever after. Boring.
Oct 01, 2010
Kailin
rated it:
For the first time, Janice understands something - and proves that she is not a complete idiot.
Aug 01, 2011
Jessie
rated it:
Rabbit Remembered was gritty and sooty. It's the last book in the Rabbit series, which cover the life of and the lives around Harry Angstrom, a sleazy car dealer and suburban player. Although the series is fiction, It's Updike's genuine testimony to post-war suburban life.
May 10, 2010
Rhonda
rated it:
I must admit that I only read "Rabbit Remembered" in this book. I have read all of the other rabbit books and I was excited to see there was a final chapter. It was very satisfying.
Aug 28, 2010
Mary
rated it:
I thought I had said good-bye forever to Rabbit, but found this short story about the life of the Angstrums after Rabbit's death. I will never forget these characters.
